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PCPs associated with higher rates of vaccinations among patients with end-stage renal disease

Patients with end-stage renal disease were more likely to receive recommended vaccinations if they had a regular primary care physician, according to research presented at ASN Kidney Week.

“I think many nephrologists are under the impression that they are providing a lot of the primary care needs for their patients with end-stage renal disease,” Samuel Phen, third year medical student at the University of Florida, told Healio Internal Medicine.

“We did a cross sectional survey of the patients at our two dialysis centers at the University of Florida to determine whether they were seeing PCPs and if having a PCP was associated with a higher rate of vaccinations, such as influenza, pneumococcal and hepatitis B,” he said.

Phen and colleagues used a survey instrument to conduct one-to-one interviews with 132 patients with end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis (mean age 57.8 years; 50% men; 61.3% black).

Most participants (89.8%) reported having a PCP. Compared with participants without a PCP, those with a PCP demonstrated significantly higher rates of influenza (89.8% vs. 71.4%), pneumonia (75% vs. 42.9%) and tetanus or Tdap (96.4% vs. 78.6%) vaccination.

Although the rates of vaccination for HPV, hepatitis B and shingles were also higher among participants with a PCP, these rates were not statistically significant.

Participants in the PCP group were more likely to be older, women and have a higher education level.

“We were pleasantly surprised by the amount of patients who did have PCPs” because patients on hemodialysis spend a significant amount of time at dialysis centers, Phen said.

“Clinicians must make sure that patients with end-stage renal disease stay up-to-date on their vaccinations, especially the influenza and pneumococcal vaccines because they are associated with significant morbidity and mortality,” he added. – by Alaina Tedesco

Reference:

Phen S, et al. Abstract: FR-PO780. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week; Oct. 23-28, 2018; San Diego.

Disclosure: Healio Internal Medicine was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.